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Pam Raises Awareness on the London Loop Walk

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Category: Awareness

Published on Thursday, 16 September 2010 09:12

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Day 9 had only a smattering of rain, but otherwise just right for walking. The scenery consisted of a mixture of open rolling countryside and mature woodland, with the upmarket housing estate, Moor Park, deemed a conservation area, because it was developed by Lord Leverhulme.

On day 10 I was walking along the northern section of the loop and encountered large stretches of managed woodland and open space as well as busy main roads and the M1.  Also there was a contrasting view of the huge expanse of water at the reservoir at Aldenham with the picturesque pond of Stanmore Little Common.

The rain got me on day 11 and waited until I was way out in open country.  I did find a useful oak tree that didn’t leak too much for the worst of it and the ominous black clouds had given me notice to unpack the wet weather wear, so not too bad.

The canal was my route for most of day 12, this time the Lea Navigation.  Here I met some tiny ponies through the fence and a family of swans with six nearly grown cygnets.  I also saw a cormorant, but he wouldn’t keep above water long enough for me to take his picture.  Awareness was done on the move leaving leaflets at pubs and shops along the way.  I think I was raising awareness about the loop itself as well as many people did not know it passed outside their premises!

I changed my plans for day 13 when I realised the buses were an hour and a half apart at my original stopping place.  This gave me a shorter day, but a longer day 14.  The lunch time venue was then beside a lake full of wildlife although not far from busy Chingford.

In Havering Country Park on day 14, the giant redwoods formed an impressive avenue. As I was admiring these a deer shot across the path.  It was not one I had seen before and have since discovered it was a Muntjac.  So two introduced species seen in the same moment. The extra miles began to have an effect on my right leg and I was glad to be on the train at the end of this section and have some time to stretch out before it started moving off.